As an Isles fan I’m fine with moving Pageau, but we don’t really have any replacements since I’d prefer to keep Barzal and Horvat together. That really only works if you trust Ishakov which I don’t think the organization does yet

Interesting, but the issue then becomes resigning key contracts next year. Petey, Hronek, DeSmith, Blueger, Lafferty, Bear and Cole free up 22.1 million plus an approx 4m in cap increase = 26million.

Resign Petey at 11mil and Hronek at 7mil (18 total) gives 8mil to find a Backup Goalie, Top 4 LHD, Top 4 RHD, and two 4th liners. Definitely an option to call up players like Aman, Hirose, McWard, Silovs.. etc. But you can't tell me that will provide better depth than the team has this year.

*Edit*
Not to mention OEL buyout increases to 2.3m next season

No to Peeke. Adds nothing of need other than shuffling the deck chairs. His D bites.

JGP only further adds to cap complications although I do like him. So again a no.

Better to ride it out with AB & then decide.

McCarron isn't a good player. He's worse than all the players on this roster currently. No idea why this trade to Van is repeated on CF.

Pageau is likely the only player of interest here.

If Bear doesn't sign in Van, then the Myers flip could be worthwhile.

I really would like to do the JGP-Garland deal but many NYI fans say no for a few reasons, one being it doesnt seem like a Lou move.

I could see it at the TDL this year if Lou is ready to call up Iskhanov, who imo looks absolutely NHL ready. We would just need Cizikas to step up to play a few extra shifts a game

This leaves lots of space to resign and build a roster trust me. I've these done enough to know. You missed that there's 5m in retention this year 3 from Myres and 2 from Beau for the Canucks to use. You're math is about 5m short.

They've got 32.15m next year (this includes OEL and 4m salary cap increase)
Petty 11.5m Hronek 6.5m Three extra non-starting players forwards plus two bottom two wingers (call it 5m to be very conservative) 5m

This leaves 9.15m for two D and a backup. Personally, I think the Canucks use an internal player as backup so Silvo or Tolopilo. That would be about 1m depending on who exactly. Otherwise, could be 2m for backup. That leaves either 7 or 8m for two top 4 D. I'm hoping they can get Tanev for around 3.25mx2 with a pseudo hometown discount. But either way, you've got 3.5m to 4m per player. That should be enough to get it done.

Ah, yeah missed that, good point. If going in on JPG is the move, then adding a pick for a little bit of retention would still make me feel better if it's possible. Also, Tanev played his last Canucks hockey at 30yo, getting him at 34, even with a discount, could backfire if the plan is to pair him with Hughes. However, I'd be all for putting him on the 3rd pair with Hirose to help the rookies settle in.

All good, easy thing to miss.

Trying to sign a 3C this off-season is going to be crazy. Getting JPG and Peeke are hedges against this off-seasons free agency. Getting 3 years of retention on JPG is probably costing at least a second to get anything meaningful. I think 5m for a 3c is about what you're expecting to pay (or at least budget for) as market rates and that's before going into this crazy free agency.

With Tanev I think you're hoping for him to either play first or second pair since you'd prefer to keep Peeke on the third pair. Also if you're playing Hirose, which I totally have the time of day for, then we've got about 6-7m for RD. With that much maybe you make a splash a top RD. On the theme of avoiding free agency, I'd make a draft day trade for a good RD with a little term. I'll take a look and maybe reply with who I'd suggest. If you could get Weegar for a non-crazy price I'd target that. He does have long term risk, but his peak value fits with our window and during that time he's on a very good contract.